OC Today-Dispatch
PAGE 86
AUGUST 21, 2026
OPST enjoys perfect summer (Aug. 21, 2026) The Ocean Pines Swim Team (OPST) has officially closed the book on one of the team’s most successful seasons. The Hammerheads completed an undefeated 60 Delmarva Swim Association (DSA) summer dual meet season before capturing the Division I Championship Title at the Allan Nelson Championship Meet at Salisbury University with a record 79 Hammerheads qualifying to attend. In addition to the team title, OPST claimed High Point honors in the 8 & Under Girls, 9-10 Girls, 1314 Girls and 15-18 Girls divisions, while the 13-14 Boys tied for first with MAKO Swim Club. At the championship meet, swimmers across every age group posted personal best performances, moved up in event placements and contributed valuable points. The team's youngest competitors proved especially impactful, with the 10 & Under swimmers accounting for approximately 40 percent of the team's total points. The Hammerheads finished the meet with 30 new team records, 23 first-place finishes, 10 second-place finishes, 10 third-place finishes and an impressive 77 additional scoring finishes from fourth through twelfth place. Just days later, 18 year-round Hammerheads traveled to St. Mary's College of Maryland for the state Swimming Long Course Championships. In another record-setting milestone for the program, this was the largest group ever to qualify, including three 10 & Under swimmers: Rowan Aguillon (10),
Finnley Greenwood (10) and Emmy McKay (9). Karis Bagley (15), Kendall Bagley (17), Alex Dypsky (17), Emily Fink (15), Nate Fink (17), Macie Groves (16), Finley Helfrich (14), Ilya Karcheuski (14), Gabe Laizans (14), Aaralyn Lillquist (12), Patrick Murphy (13), John Parker (15), Vincent Schicchi (17), Madison Trimper (14) and Bryn Wanner (14) made up the remainder of team. The Hammerheads continued their momentum by capturing seven MD Long Course Championship titles. Karis Bagley won the 15 & Over Girls 100-meter Butterfly (1:03.81) while earning her first USA Swimming Futures qualifying cut. Kendall Bagley captured the 15 & Over 200meter Butterfly title (2:27.60) securing her existing Sectionals cut. Bryn Wanner dominated the 13-14 Girls Freestyle events, winning five state championships in the 100 (59.55), 200 (2:08.77), 400 (4:33.97), 800 (9:38.96) and 1,500-meter Freestyle (17:52.85) adding more Sectionals cuts to her growing list. Aaralyn Lillquist also added multiple medals to the team's total including runner-up honors in the 11/12 Girls 200-meter Breaststroke and third-place finishes in both the 50-meter Breaststroke and 100-meter Butterfly. The remainder of the team contributed another 33 top-16 finishes, advancing to championship finals and adding valuable team points throughout
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Qualifiers for the long course championship are pictured after a practice.
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Some of the swimmers on the age 10-and-under girls team are pictured at the DSA Championship.
the meet as well as breaking 35 team records! While teammates competed in Maryland, Kate Wanner (16) represented OPST on the national stage at USA Swimming's TYR Futures Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee, becoming the first OPST swimmer to qualify for and compete at the prestigious meet. Wanner qualified in the 50-, 100- and 200meter Breaststroke events while also adding two time trials to her schedule. She recorded personalbest times in every event, established four new team records and achieved four additional qualifying cuts, including yet another OPST first - qualifying for USA Swimming's Junior Nationals jumping two steps closer to Olympic Trials. The accomplishments cap Head Coach Scott McIntire's second full year leading the program, during which the Hammerheads have continued to grow while establishing themselves as one of the region's premier developmental swim teams. Following a well-earned three-week break, the Hammerheads will return to the pool this fall to begin preparations for the 2026-2027 season.
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